Journal
PARASITOLOGY
Volume 141, Issue 3, Pages 411-424Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182013001728
Keywords
Mixed infections; Theileria parva; Theileria sp. (buffalo); PCR suppression; speciation; Diagnostics; real-time hybridization; Theileria sp. (bougasvlei)
Categories
Funding
- Theileria Diagnostics project of Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute [15/08/1P01]
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries [OV21/03/C148]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Strict control measures apply to movement of buffalo in South Africa including testing for Theileria parva, the causative agent of Corridor disease in cattle. The official test is a real-time hybridization PCR assay that amplifies the 18S rRNA V4 hyper-variable region of T. parva, T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Mixed infections with the latter organisms affect diagnostic sensitivity due to PCR suppression. While the incidence of mixed infections in the Corridor disease endemic region of South Africa is significant, little information is available on the specific distribution and prevalence of T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Specific real-time PCR assays were developed and a total of 1211 samples known to harbour these parasites were screened. Both parasites are widely distributed in southern Africa and the incidence of mixed infections with T. parva within the endemic region is similar (similar to 25-50%). However, a significant discrepancy exists in regard to mixed infections of T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) (similar to 10%). Evidence for speciation between T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) is supported by phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene, and their designation as different species. This suggests mutual exclusion of parasites and the possibility of hybrid sterility in cases of mixed infections.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available